One year follow-up of children and adolescents with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) treated with rituximab.
BACKGROUND
We previously showed in a prospective study that rituximab appears to be effective in some children and adolescents with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Eleven of 36 patients achieved and maintained platelet counts over 50,000/mm(3) within the first 12 weeks. These patients were followed for the next year.


METHODS
Platelet counts were monitored monthly and all subsequent bleeding manifestations and need for further treatment was noted.


RESULTS
Eight of the 11 initial responders maintained a platelet count over 150,000/mm(3) without further treatment intervention. Three patients had a late relapse. One initial non-responder achieved a remission after 16 weeks, and two additional patients maintained platelet counts around 50,000/mm(3) without the need for further intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Rituximab resulted in sustained efficacy with platelet counts of 50,000/mm(3) or higher in 11 of 36 patients (31%).
Mueller
Brigitta U
BU
Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Service, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Bennett
Carolyn M
CM
Feldman
Henry A
HA
Bussel
James B
JB
Abshire
Thomas C
TC
Moore
Theodore B
TB
Sawaf
Hadi
H
Loh
Mignon L
ML
Rogers
Zora R
ZR
Glader
Bertil E
BE
McCarthy
Maggie C
MC
Mahoney
Donald H
DH
Olson
Thomas A
TA
Feig
Stephen A
SA
Lorenzana
Adonis N
AN
Mentzer
William C
WC
Buchanan
George R
GR
Neufeld
Ellis J
EJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab